Life-boat apparatus.



A. BRUN.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented oei-1. 18,1910.

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LIFE BOAT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION PILPD JUNE ze, 1909.

Patented o@t.18,191o.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. BRUN.

.LIFE BOAT APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 29, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. BRUN.

LIFE BOAT APPARATUS.

Y APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 29, 1909. 9?@,3699 Patented Oct. 18,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UGUST BRUN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LIFE-BOAT APPARATUS.

Application led June 29, 1909.

structions and arrangements in devices andl vapparatus of this character.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide means whereby a `life `boat may in an emergency be almost instantly launched. The usefulness of the life boats carried upon vessels is very frequently 1mpaired by the fact that so much time is required in getting the boats in the water.

My invention provides means whereby the boat may be launched within a few seconds after the occasion has arisen for launching it, and moreover, while the vessel on which the life boat is carried is still in motion. When life boats are hung from davits, as is customary atthe present time, the vessel has to be practically stopped before the boats can be lowered.

A further object of the inventionv is to so construct the launching means that it may be put in operation by those in the life boat.

A further object is to provide a support-- ing and launchingl means for the boat which is rotatable so that the boat will normally lie parallel with the rail of the vessel, thus obstructing the deck of the vessel as .little as possible, but may be turned with its forward end over the rail of the vessel at any angle to the vessel that may be desirable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of life boat which will be suitable for being so launched.

The invention has for further objects such other new and improved constructions in life boats and in apparatus for supporting and launching the same as will be described 'in this specification and particularly set forth in the claims appended hereto.

The invention, in a preferred embodiment, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the boat. and its supporting and launching apparatus.

Fig. 2 al plan view of the latter devices with* Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 505,076.

v4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 a rear end view of the apparatus. Fig. 6 a sectional plan taken on line 6*?) of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 8 a'vertical sec tional view illustrating the means employed for releasing the launching or ejecting dev ice, and Fig. 9 a vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts 1n the several figures of the drawings Referring now to the drawings, 15 represents the life boa-t which is preferably completely covered and inclosed by the deck 16, provided with openings which maybe closed by the slide doors 17, 17. The hull of the boat 1s preferably made of steel and the upper part of aluminum.` In order that the rudder 18 and propellor 19 may be protected from injury due to the shock of launching, the stern of the boat is recessed, the rudder and propeller being located in this recess. The keel 20 of the boat is extended under and rearwardl of these parts as shown at 21. Prefera l the propeller has but two blades diametrically arranged so that they can be made to stand in upright position when the boat is not in use. The

boat may be propelled by any suitable form of motor. It may be usual cork belt 22.

I have shown what I consider a suitable construction of life boat, having in mind the manner, hereafter to be described, in which itis to be launched. 1t is obvious, however, that my invention is not limited to the particular form of boat, and the construction of the latter may dier considerably, accordingdto the circumstances in which it is to he use Preferably, the boat is supported upon a frame work which is mounted so as to rotate and the forward end of which is capable of downwardly inclination. For example, referring particularly to Figs.' 1, 2 and 9, I provide a standard 23, the base of which 24 may be bolted to the deck 25 of the vessel. 0n the stationary top 26 of the standard rests a rotatable late 27 keyed to a shaft 28, the lower end of) which is provided with a collar 29 held, but rotatably, between the plates 30 and 31 by suitable bolts.

provided with the Patented 01515.18, 1910.

Bolted 11o to the plate 27, which constitutes a turntable, are the channel beams 32, 32. Attached to, or integral with the beams 32 are the uprights 33, to which are attached the rails 34, 34, one on each side of the boat. These parts constitute the supporting means for the boat. Preferably, grooved rollers 35 are mounted on t-he beams 32. The keel of t-he boat rests upon these rollers. -The rails 34 are preferably provided with the rollers 36.

I prefer to provide at the forward end of the supporting means thus described, a similar frame which, while normally remaining in horizontal position, is capable of inclination. Beams 37 37 are hinged to' the beams 32, 32 by the pivot 38 (Fig. 3), and a lever 39 arranged in the space betweenthe oppositely placed beams is fulcrumed on the same pivot and is connected at its forward end by pivot 40 to the forward beams 37, and carries at its rear end the counter-weight 41, provided with the sector-gear 42. A gear wheel 43 mounted between beams 32 meshes with sector 42. A handle 44 is rigidly connected with the gear wheel. The beams 37 are provided with the uprights 45/ which support the rails 46, 46, alining with rails 34, 34. The beams 37 are provided with rollers 35, as in the case of beams 32 and the rails 46 with the rollers 36. At the forward end of beams 37 is preferably a roller 47. A stop 4la engaged by ythe counter' weighted part 41 limitsthe inclination of the forward sector to about twenty degrees.

The launching or ejecting device is preferably mounted so as to travel on the rear ends of beams 32 and is preferably operated by spring pressure. Y

48 is a casing formed with the webs 49, 49 (Figs. 1, 5 and 7) which extend under the upper web of beams 32. In order to decrease friction, rollers 50 may be mounted in the under side of casing 48; and if desired, the rollers 51 may be set into the webs 49 on axles 49a so as to run on the under surface of the upper webs of beams 32. The forward Y end of casing 48 is provided with the follower 52 conformed to the contour of the stern of the boat.

Within the casing are mounted the two windlasses 53, 53, provided with the gears 54, 54 between and meshing with which is the gear 55 rigid on the stem 56, which stem is provided with the hand-wheel 57. Keyed to stcm 56 is a ratchet 58, and a dog 59 for the ratchet is pivoted to the plate 60 on the end of the casing. The cables 61, 61 connect ed with the springs to be described hereafter, pass through the hollow arms 62, 62 on casing 48, and are wound u on the windlasses 53. Connected with the orward end of beams 32 are the cylindrical spring casings 63, 63, one of these being shown in lon ltudinal section in Fig. 4.- Within each of t ese cas# ings is a very strong spiral spring 64 anchored tothe end of the casing and attached at the other end Ato a plunger follower 65. The cables 61 are suitably connected with this follower and the corresponding one on the other side of the apparatus.

From the back plate 66 of casing 48 projects a concaved web 67 in the upper surface of which is formed the forward notch 68 and the rearwardly placed notch 69. A handle 70 forked at 71 is connected by shaft 72 to the web 67 and connected with this handle by guides 73, 73 is a squared rod 74, the end of which is adapted to extend into the notches 68 or 69. A flat spring 75 is attached to the upper end of rod 74 and bears against the handle 70. The space between the rod and the handle is suiicient so that when the spring is flattened out against the handle, rod 74 will rise out of the notch in web 67. A cord 76 may be attached t0 the end of rod 74 and lead into the interior of the boat through the perforation 77 in the deck. On the squared portion 78 of the sha-ft 72 connecting the forks of handle 70 is a detent 79 which engages with a plate 80 which is set between beams 32, 32. When the rod 74 is'in the slot 69,` the detent 79 engages with the sto-p plate 80. When rod 74 is in slot 68 the detent is turned out of the path ofthe stop plate. Cushioned stops are preferably provided to limit the forward movement of the launching or ejecting device. ljreferably, I provide on each side of the boat an air cylinder 81 attached to beam 32 and having a plunger 82 which is engaged by casing 48. The deck 16 of the boat should be provided with the glass covered port holes 83 and the ventilating jacks 84. Rings 85-may be provided by means'of which the boa-t can be hoisted in the usual way.

The operat-ion of the apparatus above described is as follows Under ordinary cir-V cumstances the life boat will be supported on the deck so as to lie parallel with the rail. The springs 64 will be kept under tension, the tension being regulated by means of the hand-wheel 57 The s uared rod 74 connected with handle 70 w1ll be in the rear notch 69 so that the engagement of detent 79 with t-ho stop plate 8O holds the ejecting or launching device,-consisting of the follower 52, casing 48 and associated parts, in the rearward position, as shown in Fig. 1. If a motor boat is used, it will be operated by a motor which can be started instantly. Now if occasion arises for launching the life boat, for example, if a man falls overboard, the persons whose duty it isl to operate the life boat get into the boat at once, closing shutters 17 after them. By pulling on the cord 76, the rod 74is drawn out of slot 69 and the vtension of springs 64 thrusts .the ejecting device against the stern of the boat, causing' the latter to move forward upon the rollers. As soon as the weight of the boat is brought to bear upon vthe tilting forward end of the supporting means, the latter tilts downwardly and the boat slides over the rail into the water. It will be understood that before the men who operate the life boat have gotten inside they will have turned the life boat at the proper angle, or this may be done by others on board the Vessel. If the vessel is in motion, the life boat should be turned about so that it can be launched, as nearly as may be, in the direction from which the vessel is traveling. The boat is strongly built so that it will stand the shock of the launching. The rudder and propeller, the parts most easily broken, are protected by the extended portion 2l of the keel. The ejecting device is stopped and cushioned against the cushioning devices ysi, s2.

On the return ofthe life boat, it may be hoisted up in the usual way, replaced on its support, which. may be turned back to its normal position, parallel with the rail of the vessel after the forward or tilting end has been lifted into alinement with the rear portion of the supporting frame by means of handle 44. The ejecting device will, of course, be reset.

I do not limit myself to the particular devices, constructions and arrangements shown and described, as modifications might be devised which would come within my invention as defined by the claims. I have described the life boat apparatus as it is intended to be used upon a vessel., but it is obvious that the same form of support-ing and launching apparatus might be used for launching a boat from a pier or dock. While I consider the boat herein shown and described as being the most suitable in view of the manner in which it is to be launched,

' the apparatus might be used in connection with boats of different description.

I claim:

1. In life boat launching apparatus, the combination with a boat, of a supporting /device which supports the keel and the sides of the boat and holds said boat in substantialIy horizontal position, an ejecting device whlich vis movably mounted on said supporting device so as vto engage one end of said body, and means for moving said ejecting device so as to force said boat lengthwise of said supporting device and eject the same therefrom.

2. In life boat launching apparatus, the combination With'a boat, of a supporting device which supports the keel and the sides of the boat and holdssaid boat in substantially horizontal position, an ejecting device which is movably mounted on said supporting device so as to engage one end of -said boat, and means for moving said ejecting device, comprising a spring, so as to force said boat lengthwise of said supporting device and eject the same therefrom.

3. The combination with a boat, of a supporting device for the same on which it is supportedso as to be capable of movement lengthwise, a spring operated ejecting device adapted to engage with one end of the boat by means of which the boat may be moved from said supporting device, and means for adjusting the tension of the spring element of said spring operated device.

4. In life boat launching apparatus, the combination with a boat, of a supporting device which supports the keel and the sides of the boat and holds said boat in substantially horizontal position, an ejecting device which is movably mounted on -said supporting device so as to engage one end of said boat, means for moving said ejecting device comprising a spring, so as to force said boat lengthwise of said supporting device and eject the same therefrom, and releasing means for said ejecting device.

5. The combination with a boat of a supporting device for the same on which it is supported s o as to be capable of movement lengthwise, a spring operated ejecting device adapted to engage with one end of the boat by means of which the boat may be moved from said'supporting device, and releasing means operable from inside the boat for releasing said spring operated device.

6. In life boat launching apparatus, the combination with a boat, of a supporting device provided with rollers which support the keel and with rollers which bear against the sides of the boat, said supp/ortiug device holding said boat in substantially horizontal position, an ej ecting device which is movably mounted on said supporting device so as to engage one end of said boat,and means for moving said-ejecting device so as to force'said boatlengthwise of said supporting device and eject the same therefrom.

7. In life boat launching apparatus, the combination with a boat, of a supporting device provided with rollers which supportthe keel and with rollers which bear against theside of the boat, said supporting device holding said boat in substantially horizontal position, an ejecting device which is movably mounted on said supporting devicev so as to engage one end of said boat, means for moving said ejecting device so as to force said boat lengthwise of said supporting device, and lockmg means for said ejecting device which is adapted to be released when said boat is to be launched.

8. The combination with a boat, of a supporting device for the same on which it is supported so as to be capable of movement lengthwise, said device comprising a rear section substantially horizontal on which the boat normally rests and a forward section hinged to the rear section so as to be capable of downward inclination; and means for moving said boat from the rear section of the supporting device to the hingedV forward section, for the purpose described.

9. The combination with a boat, of a supporting device for the same on which it is supported so as to be capable of movement lengthwise, said device comprising a rotatable rear section on which the boat normally rests and a forward section hinged to the same so as to be capable of downward inclination; and means for moving said boat from the rear section of the supporting device to the hinged forward section, for the purpose described.

l0. The combination with a boat, of a supporting device for the same on which it is supported so as to be capable of movement lengthwise, a movable ejecting device which engages the stern of the boat, and means located forwardly of the same on each side of the boat for imparting movement to said ejecting device.

11. lThe combination with a boat, of a supporting device for the same on which-it is supported so as to be capable of movement lengthwise, a movable ejecting device which engages the stern of the boat and springs at each side of the boat for imparting movement to said ejecting device.

12. The combination with a boat, of a supporting device for the same on which it is supported so as to be capable of movement lengthwise, spring cylinders located on the supporting device at each side of the boat,

i .y springs in said cylinders, a follower which is movably mounted on' the supporting means and engages the stern of the boat1 and cables connecting the follower with said springs.-

13. The combination with a boat, of a supporting device for the same on which it is supported so as to be ca able of movement lengthwise, spring cylin ers located on the supporting device at' each side of the boat, springs in said cylinders, a follower which is movably mounted on the supporting means and engages the stern of the boat, cables connecting the follower with said, springs, a casing on said follower, windlasses in said casing on which said vcables are wound, and means for rotating said windlasses. A

14. The combination with a boat, of supporting means for the same comprising a standard, a rear supporting section rotatablymounted on thev standard which is substantially horizontal and which normally supports the boat, and ya forwardsection hinged to the rear section so' that 1t 1s capa ble of forward inclination. 15. The combination with a boat, of supporting means for the same comprising a standard, a rear supporting section rotatably mounted on the standard which is substantially horizontal and which normally supports the boat, a forward section hinged to the rear section so that it is capable of forward inclination, and rollers on said supporting means over which the keel of the boat travels.

16. The combination with a boat, of supporting means for the same comprising a standard, a reary supporting section rotatably mounted on the standard which is substantially horizontal and which normally supports the boat, a forward section hinged to the rear section so that it is capable of forward inclination, rollers on said supporting means over which the keel of the boat travels, and rollers on said supporting means which engage the sides of the boat.

17. The combination with a boat, of supporting means for the same comprising a standard, a rear supporting section rotatably mounted on the standard which is substantially horizontal and which normally supports the boat, a forward section hinged to the rear section so that itis capable of downward inclination, the rear end of said forward section being counter-weighted, a segment gear on the forward section, and a gear having a handle on the rear section, whereby the said forward section may be returned to its horizontal position.

18. In life boat apparatus, the combination with a life boat, of supporting means for the same comprising a standard, a rear supporting section rotatably mounted on the standard, a forward section hinged to the rear section so as to be capable of downward inclination; and a launching device comprising a follower which engages the stern of the boat and is movable upon said rear supporting section, springs arranged on said supporting means, cables attached to said springs, means connected with said follower upon which the cables may be wound, a stop on said supporting means, a movable detent connected with said follower, and a releasable lock which holds said detent in engagement with said stop.

19. The combination with a boat, of supporting means for the same comprising a standard, a rear supporting section which is rotatably mounted on the standard and which is substantially horizontal and nor-- mally supports the boat, and a forward tilt- 20. The combination lwith a boat, of supporting meansfor the same comprising a standard, a rear supporting section rotatably mounted on the standard, which is substantially horizontal and Which normally supports the boat and a forward tilting section; and means for moving the boat from said rear section upon said tilting section, for the purpose described.

21. The combination with a boat, of supporting means for the same comprising a standard, a rear supportingsection rotatably mounted on the standard, which is substantially horizontal and which normally supports the boat, andthe forward tilting section; and a spring-operated ejecting device on the rear section which engages with AUGUST BRUN.

Witnesses:

F. HERMAN GrADE P. H. TRUMAN. 

